Way Beyond Legal Research: Understanding the Research Process of Legal Scholars

21 Pages Posted: 18 Jan 2010 Last revised: 31 Jan 2010

See all articles by Stephanie Davidson

Stephanie Davidson

Willamette University College of Law Library

Date Written: January 15, 2010

Abstract

How do legal scholars seek, find, and manage information in the course of producing a scholarly article or book? While the topic of legal research has been explored in the literature, few studies have been conducted exploring the research process of legal scholars, and the variety of information work that they do when they produce scholarship. This article organizes and addresses the most important research questions for understanding the research process of legal scholars. The article also addresses practical applications of this work for librarians, including the process of assessing faculty service and collection needs. Finally, it suggests a path for exploring these research questions with an empirical study, using qualitative methods.

Keywords: legal scholars, scholarship, research process

Suggested Citation

Davidson, Stephanie, Way Beyond Legal Research: Understanding the Research Process of Legal Scholars (January 15, 2010). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1537336 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1537336

Stephanie Davidson (Contact Author)

Willamette University College of Law Library ( email )

245 Winter St. SE
Salem, OR 97301
United States
5033755345 (Phone)
97301 (Fax)

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